Warwickshire 'to welcome 600 new engineering jobs' - 19-06-2008 - 10:59

Around 600 engineering jobs are to be created in the West Midlands after Jaguar Land Rover announced expansion plans.

The car manufacturer, which employs 16,000 people at plants across the region and in Merseyside, is expected to concentrate the new jobs in engineering at its base in Gaydon, Warwickshire.

Engineering jobs working on new technology are up for grabs as the firm bids to meet European Union carbon emissions targets, while some of the 600 positions will be allocated for jobs in finance, human resources and purchasing.

More than 80 graduates are also expected to join the business in September and David Smith, chief executive of Jaguar Land Rover, said the company's new owner - Indian firm Tata – is entering it into an "exciting new era".

He added: "Sustainability is a business imperative and we need both experienced and newly qualified graduate engineers to progress the technology projects of the future."

Local newspaper the Birmingham Post has welcomed the "major boost" for the West Midlands manufacturing sector.

However, automotive correspondent John Cranage said in a column that Jaguar Land Rover may be affected by a shortage of skilled workers in the area.

Gateshead plant cuts 90 engineering jobs - 17-06-2008 - 17:24

Ninety temporary engineering jobs have been cut at a plant in Gateshead, it has been revealed.

Japanese firm Komatsu explained to staff that difficult economic conditions are to blame for its decision, the Evening Chronicle reports.

Falling sales of the company's diggers across Europe in the last three months are believed to have led to Komatsu to the engineering jobs cuts and a prolonged summer shutdown of three weeks.

Peter Howe, managing director of the firm, said in a briefing note to staff that the current economic climate has led to falling sales and a reduced level of orders for June.

"This has unfortunately required a further re-evaluation of our production and sales forecasts and we have made another reduction to our planned production volumes.

"This is a difficult time … we have no option than to consider alternative ways of reducing production volumes in the short-term in order to protect the future of the business."

It was revealed recently that 39,000 jobs, many of them jobs in engineering, could be created by a proposed wind farm in the north-east.

The Sunderland Echo reported offshore sites are being considered in the North Sea off the coast of the city because of wind levels, water depth and potential connection to the grid in the area.

New transport centre to boost engineering in city - 13-05-2008 - 17:29

The engineering and technology sector in Peterborough is set to be boosted by a new transport centre which will tackle climate change.

Environment and regeneration leaders have welcomed news of the £5.5 million TransEco Centre, which could help the city become the UK's environment capital, the Peterborough Evening Telegraph reports.

Interest in the centre has already been expressed by engineering firms Aveico and Thales.

Peter Fearn, chief executive of RailWorld which owns the earmarked site in the city, said the centre could educate people about the threat posed by climate change.

He continued: "The threat posed by climate change means everyone needs to think about changing their lifestyles now, and the means of transport we choose has got to help."

Earlier this month it was reported a firm in the city was the recipient of a contract in South America to produce steam turbine engines for a company operating off the coast of South America.

Peter Brotherhood is set to build two engines for use in generators in oil and gas exploration fields near Brazil.

Bosch aims to create new jobs in Europe - 13-05-2008 - 17:26

Technology firm Bosch Group has announced at its annual conference in Stuttgart it is hoping will create engineering jobs in Germany by expanding a research and development centre in the city.

It is looking to upgrade the Abstatt centre near Stuttgart to strengthen the country as an industrial location.

Germany, it was revealed, is "at the heart" of Bosch's research and development operations and will continue to be in the future.

Franz Fehrenbach, chairman of the group's board of management, said 60 million euros will be spent between now and 2010 to expand the firm's Abstatt engineering centre to prove their commitment to the country.

He added: "This may create up to 900 new jobs, especially in engineering and application."

Bosch has been active in the UK since 1899 and is currently headquartered in Buckinghamshire.

Around 5,000 people are employed in Britain by the group, with other bases located in Cardiff, Suffolk and Worcester.

Rolls-Royce announces good start to year - 08-05-2008 - 08:41

British engineering and aerospace company Rolls-Royce has announced a solid start to the year despite the current economic environment.

It has gained from growth in its energy and marine businesses and ongoing defence work, the Press Association reports.

The firm has spread globally, with £7.7 billion in new order in the first quarter of the year, including a £2 billion contract with US airways for Trent 700 engines.

Chief executive Sir John Rose told the delegates at its annual meeting that emerging markers were aiding Rolls-Royce but the company will have to cope with the credit shortage and rising fuel costs.

He added: "The group's increasingly global nature, our access to growing international markets and the scale of our order book all support your board's confidence that Rolls-Royce will continue to deliver growth."

It has also been announced Rolls-Royce is set to team up with the Conservative party to stimulate the manufacturing sector.

Tories to team up with Rolls Royce to boost manufacturing - 07-05-2008 - 17:37

Conservative leader David Cameron has today set out plans to work with Rolls-Royce to stimulate the manufacturing sector.

Mr Cameron has said he also wants to develop policies with the car manufacturer to help a future Tory government "create a better business environment" for industry as a whole.

He told a press conference at Westminster he was pleased to be working with one of Britain's "greatest business and export success stories".

The Conservatives hope working with the company will help them understand the factors which contribute towards successful technology.

Mr Cameron added: "Members of our policy team will be embedded within Rolls-Royce teams both in the UK and internationally, and we will hold a manufacturing summit later in the year to investigate how to engineer a modern manufacturing revival in Britain."

The Tories' announcement follows an article in the Guardian which recommends engineering jobs as a career step.

Mechanical engineering is said to be a "meaty area" and an interest in cars is said to be an advantage.

Engineering company slashes jobs - 03-03-2008 - 10:44

An engineering company in Chorley has been forced to make almost half of its workforce redundant.

WST Engineering will make nearly 50 workers redundant after crisis talks with Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle failed.

Tony Wilson, owner of the company, told the Chorley Guardian: "Mr Hoyle met with us to see if he could help in anyway but the reasons for the redundancies are purely economical and had to continue."

He added that the company has managed to accommodate some of the people that were made redundant on other plants in Lancashire and the company will now try and "fight in a tough environment".

Of the 48 workers being made redundant, most were asked to leave last week, while the majority will leave over the course of this week.

Mr Hoyle approached the company after it claimed that the redundancies were necessary because of cheap imports of exhausts.

WST Engineering is manufacturer of exhaust products as well as other manipulated wire and tube products.

Rolls-Royce announces company streamlining - 11-01-2008 - 11:28

Rolls Royce has announced that it is to enter a further stage in the company's programme which is aimed at improving competitiveness and efficiency and could result in the reduction of employees who work as management, professional and clerical staff.

The group will be talking to their staff with a view to reducing their number of workers by 2,300, although the recruitment of graduates and apprentices will continue as normal.

Mike Terrett, Rolls-Royce chief operating officer, said: "We are determined to create a leaner and more agile support structure, better suited to the global markets in which we operate. The investments we have already made in new management systems will help us deliver this simplified organisation."

He added that Rolls-Royce will continue to focus on "ongoing cost reduction and productivity improvements as the business grows".

By the end of November 2007, Rolls-Royce employed around 39,500 people across the globe, including 23,300 in the UK.

Bentley launches online recruitment scheme for engineers - 09-01-2008 - 09:56

Bentley has launched a new online recruitment scheme which will make it easier for people to apply for engineering jobs at the firm.

The scheme, which will be launched in partnership with Stepstone's i-grasp system, has already gone live and will give budding engineers from around the world the chance to join the Bentley Motors team.

Christine Gaskell, board member for personnel at Bentley, said: "Our new e-recruitment system will enhance our ability to attract high-level people from around the world. In a global business such as ours, being able to offer an online application system is essential."

She added that it will also enable Bentley managers to "track applications and securely monitor the progress of vacancies".

People applying for the course can now use the online system to book themselves onto assessment centres and interviews as well as monitor their own application process.

Bentley was founded in 1919 and is has been located in Crewe since 1946.

Council waits on Rolls-Royce decision - 04-01-2008 - 10:51

The creation of thousands of jobs in Scottish towns is being held up while Rolls-Royce makes a decision on its new £45 million repair and maintenance hub in east Kilbride.

Rolls-Royce had decided to build the hub at Langlands West industrial estate to replace its facility at Nerston and protect 1,100 engineering jobs. However it was announced in September 2006 that the project was being delayed, reports the Glasgow Evening Times.

A council spokeswoman told the newspaper: "There has been no change to the firm's decision to delay the project. In the meantime the council has focused on the completion of the groundworks and infrastructure work to create two business location opportunities at Langlands West. The council will consider how best to market the sites in due course."

She added that the council will not rush into a decision regarding Rolls-Royce's ambitions "provided they can be realised in a reasonable time period".

Among Rolls-Royce's customers are 600 airlines, 4,000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators and 160 armed forces.

Staff at Rolls-Royce given Christmas sack - 13-12-2007 - 15:52

Staff at a Rolls-Royce production plant in Renfrewshire have been given a pre-Christmas shock after being told they are to be laid off.

More than 80 temporary members of staff have been told they will no longer be needed from December 21st – four days before Christmas, reports the Glasgow Evening Times.

Kenny Jordan, regional secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions, said: "It would have been more humane if management had waited until after Christmas before letting workers go."

Rolls-Royce recently won a contract worth £4 billion for jet engines. Parts for the engines are built at the plant and it is thought the workers' engineering jobs were secure.

In contrast, 120 temporary workers at the plant are to have their jobs made permanent and 80 more will be kept on a temporary basis.

Rolls-Royce has a customer base that comprises of 160 armed forces, 600 airlines and 70 navies among others.

Its annual sales total £7.4 billion.

Nationwide protests against Rolls-Royce factory shutting - 10-12-2007 - 16:18

Protests have been held at Rolls-Royce factories across the UK in support of employees of the plant in Bootle which could be shut down.

200 jobs will be lost if the plans go ahead to close the factory which makes turbines for the oil and gas industries.

Ian Tonks, Unite national officer, said: "It is scandalous that a global employer like Rolls-Royce can abandon its loyal workforce and shift production abroad. We are doing everything in our power to defend our members' jobs on Merseyside."

He added that the union will take on any company that "attempts to exploit the UK's weak employment laws because it's cheaper, quicker and easier to cut jobs here".

Protests will last for half an hour and are taking place in Bristol, Coventry, Derby, Sunderland, Barnoldswick, East Kilbride and Inchinnan as well as Bootle.

Rolls-Royce recently announced it has won a £138 million contract for Trent 700 engines. Parts of the engines will be built in its Renfrewshire plant.

Union poster shows support for Rolls-Royce workers - 04-12-2007 - 12:01

A huge poster has been unveiled in Liverpool to help a union campaign to save a Rolls-Royce factory in the area.

The poster has the Unite union's campaign slogan "Keep Rolls-Royce pride on Merseyside" written across it and is displayed on a billboard on one of Liverpool's major roads.

Rolls-Royce announced plans to shut the factory last month, resulting in 200 jobs being lost.

Debbie Brannan, Unite regional officer, said: "Too many highly skilled jobs have already been lost on Merseyside and we will not stand by and let Rolls-Royce jobs be driven out of this city without a fight."

A petition with over 10,000 signatures on it has also been organised to protest against the closure and a day of protest has been announced by fellow Rolls-Royce employees next Monday.

Unite is the largest manufacturing union in Britain and boasts over one million members.

No final decision on the closure can be made until the consultation period is over in 56 days time.

Barrichello's race engineer honoured with doctorate - 23-11-2007 - 11:41

Rubens Barrichello's senior race engineer at Honda, Jock Clear, is to receive the honorary title of doctor of engineering by his former university.

Clear, who graduated from Heriot-Watt University with a degree in mechanical engineering, will be presented with the honour for his "outstanding success in applying engineering science in the most demanding and competitive of environments".

Following his graduation in 1987, Clear went on to work as a design draftsman at Lola Cars before moving to the Benetton F1 team as Head of Composite Design.

After a stint as senior designer at Lotus, Clear made the transition into race engineering within the same team.

In 1994 he joined the Williams team as race engineer to David Coulthard and then Jacques Villeneuve when he took the 1997 FIA Formula One World Drivers' Championship.

Clear first took responsibility for former Ferrari driver Barrichello in 2006.

The honorary title was also bestowed on Clear because he acted as a role model for young engineers. At Honda he is the leader of the team's Human Performance and Young Driver Programmes.

New engineering chief for Renault - 19-11-2007 - 14:39

Car manufacturer Renault has appointed Nadine Leclair as its senior vice president of vehicle engineering development.

She will fill the role previously held by Michel Faivre-Duboz who is to become Renault's senior vice president of supply chain and logistics in the new year.

Ms Leclair, 49, will be moving from her current position as technical range manager for the Megane car and has worked at the original equipment manufacturer's engineering department since 1984.

Earlier this year, Renault announced huge expansion within Europe, with new engineering and design centres being built in Romania as well as expanding its Nordic market.

Alain Margaritopol, managing director of Renault Nordic, said at the time: "The ambitions of Renault Commitment 2009 announced in February 2006 require that we review our distribution policy in a number of key markets, for greater service quality for our customers and greater growth for our brands.

"We count on being able to give stronger support to the network and allowing dealers to be more aggressive in their marketing. In addition to an expanded and renewed product line, Renault dealers will see the introduction of the new Logan model."

Wagon appoints new chief - 19-11-2007 - 14:38

Automotive engineering firm Wagon has announced the appointment of a new chief executive.

At the end of the month, Pierre Vareille, who currently fills the role, will be stepping down and Jurgen von Heyden will fill his shoes.

Mr von Heyden was previously president of the Body and Glass division of Dura Automotive and will officially take up his new post on January 2nd.

Throughout December finance director Richard Cotton will be acting CEO of the firm.

The move is part of a company-wide restructuring programme which was enforced after it began to lose money. Figures from the company last month show, however, that trading in the first half of the year was on track.

Pierre Vareille will head to France where he will take up a new position at FCI, a worldwide supplier of electronic and electrical connectors.

Wagon was created in 1918 to manufacture freight railways and switched to automotive engineering in 1979.

Volvo seat 'best of new' - 14-11-2007 - 11:10

An automotive engineering solution to keep children safe in cars has scooped an award for new technologies.

The Volvo Cars booster seat has received one of Popular Science's annual Best of What's New awards for the system for children who are too big for the baby seat.

Integrated into the vehicle, the two-step booster cushion boats and extended inflatable curtain, stronger side body structure and load limiting seat belts.

Earning the award is the result of not only of the initial studies which gave birth to the seat originally - it was first seen in Volvo's 2001 Safety Concept Car as a way of getting children into better positions with regards t their safety belt.

The design has since been tweaked and refined and was recently launched in the XC70 crossover wagon at the Geneva Motor Show.

Other winners in the automotive category included BMW's sun-reflecting leather made by embedding metallic pigment during the tanning process and a system that gives the driver access to their mp3 player, phone and other electronic devices which can use Bluetooth.

New material could make hydrogen car cheaper - 13-11-2007 - 11:11

A reasonably priced hydrogen powered car has come a step closer to reality following the discovery of a new hydrogen storage material.

Scientists at the University of Virginia have discovered a material that absorbs and stores more than twice as much hydrogen as previous materials.

"In terms of hydrogen absorption, these materials could prove a world record,” Adam B. Phillips of the University of Virginia said.

"Most materials today absorb only seven to eight per cent of hydrogen by weight, and only at cryogenic [extremely low] temperatures. Our materials absorb hydrogen up to 14 per cent by weight at room temperature."

As climate change and environmental efficiency become more important to legislators and customers, automotive engineers have increasingly been considering cleaner and more efficient ways to power cars.

The LA car show is exhibiting a hydrogen powered car, the Honda FCX concept, the first fuel-cell vehicle for every day drivers.

Meanwhile, scientists at Penn State University have developed a way of using bacteria to extract hydrogen from biodegradable substances.

Expansion plans for Rolls and Bentley - 07-11-2007 - 15:50

British car manufacturers Bentley and Rolls-Royce are both planning to expand production thanks to booming business.

The Iconic cars, commonly associated with the super-rich, appear to be in great demand with both companies saying that they will need to increase the number of vehicles they make in order to satisfy their customers.

Bentley board member Stuart McCullough said recently that the company was now looking at how it will operate on a bigger scale.

"In four years our volume has grown from 1,000 to 10,000 cars," he said.

"The current volume is closer to where we want it to be, but we may have to change the way we produce cars.

"At Crewe [Bentley's factory] we currently work a two-shift system, so as an example we could go to a three-shift system."

And Rolls-Royce also said that it needed to ramp-up its production operations. A second production line is planned to run in parallel with the existing one, allowing it to double production rates of its popular Phantom model.

The company said that it had sold 22 per cent more Phantoms last year than it had anticipated.

Oldest surviving Rolls-Royce under the hammer - 19-10-2007 - 11:08

A gem of old-time automotive engineering is going on sale for around £2 million.

The world's oldest surviving Rolls-Royce, car 20154, will go on auction on December 3rd.

Only the fourth vehicle Charles Rolls and Henry Royce co-operated on, the 20154 - an open topped two-seater - packed a ten horsepower engine.

"It is in perfect condition after loving restoration in the 1950s. 20154 is a runner. The purchaser could get in and drive it away," Tim Schofield, head of UK motor sales at auction house Bonhams told Reuters.

"You would just need to tickle the carburettor, make sure the battery has a bit of life in it, remove the sleeve from the starter handle and give it a couple of turns."

After showing at the Paris Salon and at the Olympia Show, the car was passed between three drivers before making it into the hands of Rolls-Royce enthusiast Oliver Langton.

The Bonhams auction house will be returning it to Olympia where it will form part of the collectable cars and parts sale.